NYPD Commissioner Expected To Resign Over Federal Criminal Probe: Report

New York Police Department Commissioner Edward Caban is reportedly expected to resign in the coming days after federal law enforcement agents searched him last week as part of an alleged corruption investigation.

Politico reported that four people familiar with the matter say that he is expected to resign over the criminal probe that is being conducted by the Southern District of New York, which focuses on government corruption cases and the IRS.

The FBI executed search warrants at the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks and a home shared by First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright and Schools Chancellor David Banks. Investigators seized phones belonging to Caban and Timothy Pearson, a senior adviser to the mayor. A consultant, Terence Banks, brother of Philip Banks and David Banks, was also searched.

The New York Times reported at the start of the week that NYC Democrat Mayor Eric Adams, who is under a federal criminal corruption investigation over matters related to the Turkish government, was seeking Caban’s resignation as there are now “several federal investigations” into his administration.

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The Feds raided the home of Adam’s director of Asian Affairs, Winnie Greco, earlier this year as part of a criminal probe run by the Eastern District of New York, the Times said. His former buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, faces bribery charges and several donors to Adams’ campaign have been charged in a straw-donor scheme.

The investigation, at least in part, centers around a nightclub security business that is owned by Caban’s twin brother, James Caban. The probe is reportedly focusing on other police officials as well.

“I have the utmost confidence in the New York City Police Department,” Adams said this week when asked about Caban. “I don’t think anything in life is guaranteed. I would say this, when I chose Eddie, I chose him for his experience and what he brought after 30-something years of service.”

Texas Hotel With Alleged Venezuelan Gang Activity Ordered Temporarily Shut Down

A hotel in downtown El Paso that is allegedly occupied by a Venezuelan gang was ordered temporarily shut down by a state judge on Monday.

The judge’s order came after the Gateway Hotel and its owner received a temporary injunction and restraining order from the El Paso County attorney on Monday over suspicions that the Venezuelan “Tren De Aragua” gang was engaging in criminal activity inside the hotel.

Tren de Aragua made national headlines a few weeks ago after gang members allegedly commandeered an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado. Police there have denied the gang controls the complex.

Court documents say that police reports show the Gateway Hotel in El Paso has regular criminal activity, and members of Tren De Aragua have been allowed to operate inside, according to sworn testimony from El Paso police officers.

One officer said police witnessed several Venezuelan men with tattoos associated with the gang walking around the hotel. Hotel management was not attempting to control the conduct of guests, the officer said.

At least 693 calls to police have been made about the hotel over the last two years, including for drugs, thefts, burglaries, and fights.

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The court documents also accuse the hotel of operating for the past six years without a valid certificate of occupancy and in violation of city requirements, as well as failing at least three inspections by the El Paso Fire Department since July.

Security videos and pictures from the court documents also show people “partying” on the third floor, drinking, smoking, dancing provocatively, and one woman even apparently vomiting in a hallway with children around.

One video also shows a gun being shot, a person threatening someone with another gun, men holding knives, and a man with a hatchet assaulting people in front of a security guard.

One police officer said he suspected prostitution in the hotel. Police also described trash and fire hazards as well and said the general reputation of the hotel was for “allowing illegal activity (consuming drugs, gang activity, illegal dumping).”

A hearing is scheduled for December 9 to determine if hotel owner Howard Yun allowed criminal activity on the property.

The county attorney’s office sued the hotel last month and is seeking a permanent injunction to stop the hotel from operating until long-term solutions are in place.

The Gateway Hotel has been in downtown El Paso since the 1920s, although it has changed ownership.

The occupants of the hotel have until 10 a.m. on Thursday to vacate the building. It is unclear whether law enforcement will be required to evict those living in the hotel.